BOB Alterrain Pro Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
BOB Alterrain Pro | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Full-Size Stroller | Best Double Duty Jogger | Lower Price Impressive Full-Size Stroller | Budget Full-Size For Growing Families | |
Price | $700 List Check Price at Amazon | $700 List $699.99 at Amazon | $650 List $563.62 at Amazon | $650 List $552.76 at Amazon | $350 List $299.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | Sharp looking jogger that is easy to push over just about anything | A quality choice that uses thoughtful design to create an easy-to-use option, but it has a higher price and a larger fold | This jogger is a dual-purpose choice with better storage and easy maneuverability over most surfaces | While it performs well on flat surfaces, this high-quality option struggles off-road if those are your goals | A budget-friendly expandable stroller with good storage but limited other features and a heavier weight |
Rating Categories | BOB Alterrain Pro | UPPAbaby Cruz v2 | Thule Urban Glide 2 | Cybex Balios S Lux | Evenflo Pivot Xpand |
Ease of Use (40%) | |||||
Maneuverability (25%) | |||||
Transport/Storing (15%) | |||||
Quality (10%) | |||||
Kid's Comfort (10%) | |||||
Specs | BOB Alterrain Pro | UPPAbaby Cruz v2 | Thule Urban Glide 2 | Cybex Balios S Lux | Evenflo Pivot Xpand |
Capacity Limits | Minimum: 8 weeks (walking) 8 months (jogging) Maximum: 75 lbs/44 in |
Minimum: 3 months Maximum: 50 lbs |
Minimum: 6 months Maximum: 49 lbs/ 44 in |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: 55 lbs |
Minimum: Birth Maximum: 55 lbs/43" |
Measured Weight | 34 lbs | 25 lbs | 26 lbs | 25 lbs | 30 lbs |
Measured Folded Dimensions | 25.4"W x 17.3"H x 39.5"L | 22.9"W x 16.5"H x 33"L | 27.2"W x 15.5"H x 36.5"L | 24"W x 16"H x 31"L | 26.7"W x 19.23"H x 32.7"L |
Folded Volume | 17,357 cu in | 12,469 cu in | 15,388 cu in | 11,904 cu in | 16,790 cu in |
Handlebar Height Min/Max | 32.5"/47.5" | 40"/43" | 30"/46" | 39.5"/43" | 33"/44.7" |
Mfr. Max Allowable Total Storage Weight | 10 lbs | 30 lbs | 14 lbs | 24 lbs | 11 lbs |
Car Seat Compatibility | Britax B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, B-Safe Ultra, Endeavours Chicco KeyFit 30, KeyFit 30 Zip, KeyFit Zip Air, KeyFit Magic, Fit2 Graco All SnugRide models, SnugRide Click Connect models, SnugRide SnugLock models Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35 , Primo Viaggio 4-35 Nido |
Chicco KeyFit 35, KeyFit 30, KeyFit 30 Zip, KeyFit 30 Zip Air, Fit2, Fit2 LE, Fit2 Air Cybex Aton, Aton 2, Aton Q, Aton M Clek Liing Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30, Mico NXT, Mico AP, Mico Max Plus Nuna PIPA, PIPA lite, PIPA lite lx, PIPA lite r, PIPA rx, PIPA lite rx, PIPA urbn UPPAbaby Mesa |
BOB Unity Britax Affinity Unity, B-Safe, B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Chaperone, Unity, Unity ISOFIX Compatible Chicco KeyFit, KeyFit 30, KeyFit Plus Combi Shuttle 33 Evenflo Discovery 5 Graco SafeSeat, SnugRide, SnugRide Click Connect, SnugRide Click Connect 30, SnugRide Click Connect 35, SnugRide Click Connect LX 35, SnugRide Click Connect 40 Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, Citi, Pebble Nuna Pipa Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30, Primo Viaggio 4-35 Safety 1st Comfy Carry Elite, onBoard, onBoard Air Safe-n-Sound Unity, Unity Neos UPPAbaby Mesa |
Cybex (All) Maxi Cosi Mico 30, Maxi Cosi Mico Max, Maxi Cosi Coral XP Nuna Pipa lite |
Chicco KeyFit/KeyFit 30 Evenflo SafeMax, LiteMax Graco all with SnugRide, SnugLock 30/35 Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio 4/35 |
Wheel Type | Pneumatic | Foam Filled Plastic | Pneumatic | Foam Filled Plastic | Foam Filled Plastic |
Brake Type | Single | Single | Single | Single | Single |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Beast of Burden (BOB) company began in 1994 in California with Roger Malinowski and Philip Novotny at the helm. With the combined specialties of a bicycle professional and the airline mechanic, they originally created Yak bike trailers. After fatherhood came calling, the two saw a gap in the market for a rugged stroller suitable for jogging. And with this, the original BOB was created. Today, some BOB products even make our list of strolling favorites. Britax now owns the BOB company.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
The Alterrain is easy to use, with features that are thoughtfully placed and designed, and it earned a high score in this metric.
Fold and Unfold
The Alterrain is one of the easier to fold and unfold. It requires one hand and uses a slide and twist handle under the leg rest. It stands on its own when folded and locks in place.
The Alterrain can then be rolled like luggage when folded so you don't have to carry it.
Storage
The storage bin is large and has a zippered cover. It has average access, but the real limitation is the 10 lb limit of the bin. While this is better than some joggers, many full-size options have limits over 20 lbs. For storage of small quick access items like a phone or keys it also has a small zippered pocket on the back of the canopy and two medium mesh pockets on the back of the seat. The passenger has two mesh pockets inside the seat for holding treasures.
Harness
The harness is a no-rethread adjustment harness with shoulder straps that slide up and down a strap sewn on the back of the seat.
Adjustments are easy to make for size. The buckle is stiff but it makes a satisfying click when in place. All 5 points on the harness are adjustable for length, including the crotch strap.
Brakes
The Alterrain has two brake styles, a handbrake and a parking brake.
The handbrake slows the stroller while running, especially in downhill situations. The parking brakes are single-action, and the pedal works well, but it takes more pressure than some to ensure it is engaged.
Car Seat Compatibility
With the purchase of adapters, you can pair your Alterrain with some infant car seats from the following brands: Britax, Chicco, Graco, and Peg Perego.
Ease of Setup
The Laterrain comes largely assembled, and the remaining components will take 5-10 minutes to add. You don't need tools, it is somewhat intuitive and has clear instructions. It requires adding the wheels and canopy; it might require some tire inflation.
Maneuverability
If you want a smooth mover to head off the beaten path or to effortlessly navigate hard surfaces, the Alterrain is a good choice. With quality wheels and tires that are rubber and air-filled, the Alterrain is an easy stroller to push.
It is a little sporty and more like an SUV than a sports car on flat, hard surfaces. It is easy to push but long and needs a little extra space over shorter options. The suspension is soft and the rear wheels are wider apart than other BOB strollers in this review making it feel somewhat less precise in its movements.
Off-road, it continues to excel and outperforms most competitors with the ability to roll over darn near anything (within reason, keep it safe!). However, the softer suspension means kids over 30 lbs might feel more bumps than they would on other joggers with stiffer suspensions. It is also easy to pop up in the front for navigating curbs, but the heavily weighted back end will need some strength to lift it up with a kid on board.
Transporting and Storing
No jogger is truly small or lightweight, and the Alterrain is no exception. It weighs 33.50 lb in our tests, making it one of the heaviest in the review. If living is not your strong suit or you have a more petite stature, it could make handling this beast more than you want to tackle.
While it has an easy fold that is less awkward than some bulkier options, it still measures 17,357 cubic inches when folded. The other BOB we tested is almost 3,00 cubic inches smaller, indicating you don't need an absolute unit of a stroller if you want a jogger.
In short, if you plan to transport your stroller via public transportation or in your car frequently, you might want to do some measuring or choose a smaller jogger.
Quality
If you love a good quality product, the Alterrain will impress, earning one of the highest scores in this metric. The seat material is a mix between canvas and softer fabric. It has a tight weave and isn't the most skin-friendly but it feels durable and easy to clean. The canopy and footrest are a much coarser canvas material, assuming more wear and tear over time.
The pneumatic rubber tires are top-notch with a durable, dense plastic rim that can be locked in place. All three wheels are nicer in size, which makes moving at speeds and over rougher terrain easy. The aluminum frame tubing is an oval shape with minimal left-to-right flex. It has a more finished look than the traditional BOB. The overall fit and finish are sleek and resemble a stealth bomber with no exposed fasteners and everything where it should be.
Kid's Comfort
The Alterrain earned a higher-than-average result for kid comfort. It has a lightly padded sling-style seat with an adjustable recline and stationary leg rest. The legrest is also padded and extends down fully to the plastic footrest.
The seatback has a push-button release toggle that allows you to recline the back. It takes one hand to pull and recline but two hands to hold the toggle and pull the straps through to raise it upright. It is easy enough to do, but it feels dated compared to some of the competitions that have a single mechanism you can operate with one hand, up or down.
The canopy on the Alterrain is large and covers to the knee of most riders. It features UPF50+ and a vinyl peek-a-boo window with mesh ventilation. It isn't the ultimate canopy, but it is pretty darn close. The windows have magnetic covers, which we love. They are both effective and silent.
Should You Buy the BOB Alterrain Pro?
The Pro is a high-performing jogger with enough features to make a suitable full-size stroller. This could potentially save you money and limit the number of strollers you need to buy. However, the Alterrain is bigger than our favorite joggers and costs more. If you are a serious runner, the cost is worthwhile, but if you aren't, it could be more stroller than you need.
What Other Full-Size Strollers Should You Consider?
If you want a good cross-over jogger for daily use as a full-size option, our favorite is the Thule Urban Glide 2. This option moves over almost everything and has covered storage for shopping treasures. It folds smaller and is lighter, making it a better option if your space is limited.